Of Blood and Cherry Blossoms [Outer Rim Coalition Dominion of Hex O-60)

[Dax Perl]

[SIZE=11pt]

[/SIZE]
Location: Akarui, outside the capital city

[SIZE=11pt]It had been so long. How many hours spent bent over a map meticulously devising plans, or meeting with leaders of this or that clan or faction convincing them the cause was not yet lost. How many lives lost fighting for a planet that wasn’t even home for many of them. But that was what had always impressed Dax. For a band of smugglers and thieves, they had never failed to be united in their singular cause. Freedom to sail the galaxy. A starry-eyed ideal, sure, but that had never stopped the ORCs. They’d fought side by side and battered back darkness, tyranny, and overcome however many obstacles, never flinching or turning away from their brothers and sisters. Who said there wasn’t honor among thieves?[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]And here they were doing is again. After what was nearly two centuries of a tyrannical regime, after denying the throne to the rightful heir and subjugation of the very people who sought nothing more than to live out their happy lives in whatever manner they saw fit, the Coalition had come together once more to help them achieve that goal.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Dax stood at the top of the hill, his usual casual attire ditched for his battle garbs, the black cloak of armorweave swaying side to side in the soft breeze. Halzyn stood beside him donning his helmet, the visor lighting up a bright blue as it clicked into place. Sprawling before him, the Imperial Army’s armor glinted in the sunlight, while behind him the ragged-looking Coalition mixed with the rebellious Kitsune readied for battle. They’d pulled out all the stops for this one. Ships, men, even the broken down, barely held together artillery, though few in number. It was the final push after all.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]“Alright ladies and gents. It’s time to dance! Watch each other’s six, and let’s get these people their homes back.”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Objectives[/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]1) Assault the capital city, engage the Loyalist Army and secure the walls.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]2) Free the enslaved Kitsune and get them to safety, Loyalist forces have been given permission to kill on sight.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]3) Shut down the pirate base on the neighboring moon. Pirates have been supplying the Loyalist Army with ships and weapons, make them pay (you can steal ships here, courtesy of [member="Olivia Dem'adas"]! First come first serve basis, PM and I will update the list below)[/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]4) BYOO[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Prince-Class Tof Bulk Cruiser (3)[/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]Royal-Class Tof Light Cruiser (5)[/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]Buccaneer-Class Tof Runabout (as many as you'd like, limit 2 per person)[/SIZE]

 

[Janick Beauchamp]

Location: Chelloa -> Akarui
Objective: Assault the capital city
Allies: ORC
Enemies: Loyalists

"Commodore, the time has come to strike at the heart of this hostile regime opposing us on Akarui" Wololo communicated to them over comms.

"Wololo? If intel serves me from that world, we'd better not pack ordnance and restrict to strafing only" Griet asked them.

"We shall depart at once for Akarui"

So the rest of the squadron was in orbit over Chelloa, waiting on Griet and Janick to take off from the planet's surface, which meant that Wololo and the other pilots in her elite squadron would be there, picked from the elites of the ORC starfighter corps. After another trip inside the Kinetic Massacre, this time with Griet in tow, taking off on another mission off-world was well-appreciated: elites hardly saw combat these days, and the rabble were the ones stuck doing the more routine jobs. Such as patrolling the many space lanes in their corner of Wild Space against pirate and monster incursions. What wasn't her surprise after seeing... T-account of all pilots being reassigned to an elite unit; all she did in the meantime was to patrol based from D'Qar when not busy tending to the base's accounting. Ornfra and Tastidian weren't there because they had their own fighter squadrons under their command elsewhere in ORC space; hopefully T-account would be on Janick's flight when the time has come to assault the city's wall-mounted weapon emplacements in a strafing run. Once she is in Chelloa's orbit, with their ordnance bays used as an extra fuel tank:

"All craft, set course for Akarui!"

Spoiler: Attack craft

Shusugaunt Ghost
12 Alakaha elite fighters

 

[Not Ordo]

When he had been sitting in his one bedroom flat on Taris eating synthnoodles and recycled water he used to daydream of heros fighting for freedom. Masses of people banding together to overthrow the evil tyrants that kept them rooting in the muck for scraps instead of gazing at the stars. It was all crap of course. That was stuff from fairytales and holoflix to him. The only war he had any chance of winning was the war of making it through the next eighteen hour shift at the 'port for his ten credits an hour. If someone had said 'Hey Benge, youse gonna leave Taris someday and be a freedom fighter on some planet you don't know how to pronounce the name of', that someone would have been accused of having drek for brains. Who would have guess they'd have been right?

He stood in a primitive feeling hut, even compared to his own former accommodations he could feel the lack of technology around him. It was oddly refreshing and at the same time uncomfortably foreign. The walls of smooth wood and processed plant matter. The spongy plant based floor coverings. It reminded him of far fetched spacer tales from his childhood. The smell of wood smoke from the cook fire in the corner was another foreign concept. He never knew how much living in an ecumenopolis like Taris had allowed him. These people didn't even have the junk he had spent his life wishing he could upgrade. And yet, here they were sharing their homes with probably the ugliest stranger they had ever met. From their poverty they still gave what they could. Just like the folks in the lower levels where he lived. They didn't have much but they knew they had more together than on their own.

Gib lifted his arms as the small woman with fox like ears and tail worked at putting armor on him. He had tried to explain that he didn't need it that they had their own stuff but all that had come out when he looked into those big determined eyes was 'Yeah, ok.'. The stuff didn't look like it could stop a rock much less a blaster bolt, but, hell, if she was happy what difference did it make?

"Hold still, mister Gib." She said as she tightened and loosened and adjusted.

"Ah, its Jus' Gib, Miss." He replied as he tried to not move while she yanked on the straps.

"Jus'Gib." She said as she looked up into his orange eyes. "That's a nice name."

"No, its..." he began as she looked at him with big, pretty, kind eyes, "Thanks, Miss."

He felt an odd sensation somewhere between nerves and dizziness as she stepped back to check her work. A small nod and she was handing him a sword, a freaking sword of all the things. No way was he fighting on a battle field with some flimsy scrap metal that he could probably tie a knot with when he had a balster carbine back with Dax. No way. Not gonna happen.

She held it out with a sad smile as if it was a bittersweet moment and he took it without a word and slid it into the belt she had tied around his waist. She walked close and placed a hand on his thick skinned cheek while the weird helmet covered his bald head.

"This was my father's before they killed him." She said, "May it bring you back safe, Jus'gib."

He swallowed hard as he looked at her small hand from the corner of his eye and then back to her kind eyes. Sweat began forming on his palms and a bead trickled down his back as she stood there, with hope amd worry mingling in her sweet scent.

"I, uh, better go now." He said as he stepped back a step, "Kay, bye."

He made a bee line toward the door and felt an odd regret at leaving. It must have been something in the smoke. He headed toward the spot he was supposed to be and slung his blaster carbine over his lacquered armor. He better not ruin this armor or he was gonna feel awful.

[member="Dax Fyre"]

 

[H3xle]

LOCATION: Akarui: Space
OBJECTIVE: Pirate Hunting

~Cassia~

"There are known entities that are providing the Loyalist forces with arms operating from either Shiroi Tsuki here," Cassia indicated one of the moons of Akarui, the one known as White Moon, "or Ao Tsuki, here." She then indicated Blue Moon. "Our mission is to interdict any resupply operations currently on going, locate the base of operations, and push hostile forces from the system. Once we have located a base of operations, Coalition naval forces can come in to review the site for operational take over or demolition. Prior to that, Coalition naval forces on site will engage any enemy forces found to be protecting the resupply operation or their base. Initial contact will be ours, however. Anything too big for our squadrons, and we are to radio for help. Understood?"

A chorus of 'Aye ma'ams' and similar echoed around the room. Cassia stood for a moment, then nodded, shutting off the display as she did so.

"Excellent, we have our job, lets be about it." Her slight accent placed her from Tellyr, to anyone familiar with it, and from a well to do family. Her identity as a member of the royal family was not public knowledge, even on a ship running under the flag of the Kingdom of Tellyr.

The HMS Ironborne was a Tellyran carrier, one of the few tasked to Coalition forces instead of defending the home system. On board were various Coalition squadrons, including Cassia's Silver Flame. Cassia was acting CAG on board, being the ranking Tellyran flight officer on board. Coordinating missions with such a varied group as came from the Outer Rim Coalitions various planets was always an interesting problem. Some systems, like Tellyr, were able to field their own units to the Coalition, and did so. Others formed a miniature coalition, making a hodge podge squadron of several various fighter builds under command of whoever that coalition of systems decided would command.

As the host government for these squadrons, it was the Tellyran navy's job to bring up all of the fighters to a level of repair they felt was appropriate. For the most part, that wasn't an issue, but some of the less well off governments didn't have the resources to upkeep everything in their system and given to the Coalition.

One such group was a colony of Dugs that ran asteroid mining in a system near Tellyr. They were entirely autonomous, but tended to only have enough of a defense fleet to secure an evacuation of their mining facilities. That they willingly gave a full squadron to the Coalition for missions such as this was admirable, though Cassia's less charitable part thought it was their way of getting repairs and upkeep that they didn't want to have to pay for.

"Adunba, how does the upkeep go? How long until your squadron is five by five?" Cassia asked as she left the room, the Dug squadron commander leaving the room just before her.

"Your engineers say we should be good to go by the third sortie." The Dug Commander replied over his shoulder, then turned in the direction of the maintenance bays without another word.

Cassia made sure to school her face carefully, keeping any of her emotions off of it as she approached the bay with her Silver Flame Squadron.

"Mount up, we need to be spaceborne in thirty." She commanded, dropping the pad from her briefing onto the desk in the marked off admin area of the bay. She did a quick inspection of her flight suit, then stepped over to her fighter and mounted up. Her pre-flights would go quickly, as they were so ingrained in her she could do them sleeping. The extra time needed to be used looking over the other squadrons. The life of a CAG was never easy.

 

[Coren Starchaser]

Alliance in Exile was operating in the Outer Rim Coalition, space that was Coren’s second home, essentially. And when the call came for assistance on the world of Akarui, Coren sent some of his Sector Force. Really, it was just the Auriga, one of the FarStar corvettes, loaded with Green Squadron and a few of the Shattered Jedi, and Grey Paladins: Coren’s typical strike group. While the others were scattering around, the Jedi Master had used the force cylinder to drop down right on top of a few other Outer Rim brass. The Judges and Shattered were hopefully going to work well together, but it didn’t matter right now. Opting for his rifle, the Jedi looked to his escort and nodded.

“Follow Coalition standards, boys.” He grinned underneath his helmet. Looking over at [member="Dax Fyre"], the Jedi Master nodded. “Some Alliance help, just to show when our fleet is around we’re here to help.” He nodded.

“Where do you need us?”

 

[Yula Perl]

Location: Akarui, capital city palace
Objective: 2 | Free the slaves

When you were playing infiltrator, sometimes a disguise was necessary. A long dark cloak would do the trick—she’d seen the natives don similar apparel, especially those of lower caste. Or what she assumed to be lower class, either way she’d been covertly observing the activities of the Kitsune around the palace, noting the dismal expressions and even more dismal clothing they wore. The submission wore heavily on their bodies, dragging their graceful forms down as if it were a subconscious attempt to make themselves smaller.

Yula had always disliked slavery. Her mother was a fierce abolitionist and made no attempt to hide her hatred of slavery from her children, something that contributed to Yula’s own strong sense of justice.

She moved within the palace grounds with slow steps, hooded head lowered so as to appear to be just another fixture in the area. The Zeltron mix had managed to slip past the various guards either directly by impersonating a healer’s apprentice or indirectly through evading checkpoints.

The next door way she approached lead directly into the palace, closer to where Coalition sources had pinpointed the slave’s quarters to be.

A guard posted to one side of the door way looked down at her, moving to cross his spear in front of the entrance. Accordingly, she yielded.

“Who are you?” He growled.

Peering from beneath the hood, Yula lifted her gaze to the kitsune man. One of her hands rose carefully and glided in front of her face as she spoke.

“I am a healer. You will let me pass to tend to my patients.”

The guard stiffened and blinked as if he’d come to a sudden realization.

“You are a healer and you must tend to the patients.”

He retracted the spear from the door way and Yula passed through into the narrow corridor. She’d made it a few steps in before the guard called after her, suspicion leeching into his tone.

“Wait!”

She half turned quickly to see that one of her “kitsune tails”, one of many knee-high socks that had been stuffed with many smaller socks, had become detached and was laying in the middle of the corridor.

She really hoped that the assault on the capital would go well.

 

[Cambria Zadira]

AiE/Shattered Jedi
w/[member="Coren Starchaser"]
___

The Force cylinder worked great and Cambria was glad that Coren was utilizing it now to get his Jedi crusaders into where they were needed most when called upon to help. Today it just happened to be their friends in the Outer Rim Coalition as the faction was engaging the Loyalist Army on Akarui and a group of pirates aiding them. The enslavement of the Kitsune and/or mindless slaughter of the planet's sentiment species would not be tolerated. This was a cause near and dear to the Rutian Twi'lek's heart as she had helped free many a slave in her day and assisted them getting to a better life safely along the Great River in the past.

Dressed in her Guardian combat armor which almost seemed like a second skin nowadays, the Jedi Knight was ready to do what was necessary to help these people. The blue-skinned Twi'lek followed the Alliance-in-Exile's Jedi General over to where they would find out the current sitrep and be given their mission parameters. The New Jedi Order may be shattered from the events of the Galactic Alliance's Endgame perpetrated by one of their own, but they still had hope and the will to do good in the galaxy. This was just another stop on the long journey to redemption for the Shattered as they called themselves now.

[member="Dax Fyre"] [member="Janick Beauchamp"] [member="Cassia Graysong"] [member="Yula Perl"]

 

[Kimiko Taiyou]

Several months earlier...

Kimiko sat, more like slumped, in her seat aboard the Cyaron, heaving a relieved sigh in the process,"I am glad that the council agreed to assist with the liberation of Akarui. Just a bit of weight off our shoulders right?" her companions nodded.

Nozomi, normally the more boisterous of the group, remained rather quiet off to the side, only donning a faint smile. This caused several others to share worried glances before turning to her. The woman's long purple ears perked up after a moment, realizing she was being stared at, and looked across the gathered group.

"Well Non-tan? How does it feel to have the entire might of the Coalition backing the rebellion?" Tsubasa attempted to comment and brighten the Nozomi's mood.

She however, responded solemnly, casting her gaze away from them,"This is the greatest news I have heard in quite some time. But Ki," she turned and looked directly at the addressed one,"if this plan does not succeed, she will not hesitate to kill you herself." the fear was evident in her voice, very much unlike her.

Ki took a moment and thought hard on the words. They sank in, but left her rather unfazed. She had faced death before, and knew the consequences it could have for those around her. But this time, she knew they would be victorious in their efforts. They would succeed in this endeavor. And who knows...

Maybe she would fulfill the prophecy and become queen...

------Present-------

Location: Akarui, aboard the Cyaron headed towards Kitsuhana
Objective: Defeat the Royal Guard, gain access to the palace, challenge Ceres

The months of planning, tactics discussions, and getting the general layout of the land were hopefully about to pay off. The people of this planet deserved it, and it was time to end her sister's tyrannical reign.

Her hand hovered over her new hilt, hesitantly not touching the item. She needed to prepare herself for the inevitable. Prepare herself to die for the freedom of her people.

A deep breath, before she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned to find one of her newer companions offering an assuring smile; Honoka, leader of the Kousaka Clan and pseudo-instigator of the now all-out rebellion,"Your Majesty, there is no need to be tense. The day is just beginning, and the battles will be fierce, but we will be victorious for our Queen leads us this day!" the inflection in her voice rose so the Kits around them in the hold could hear.

They in turn cheered as the non-natives looked on in amusement. Ki had to hand it to her, she was definitely as contagiously energetic as ever. She did smile back, put at ease in the present company.

A hard bank, followed by a muffled explosion.

They have arrived...

Ki's hand finally grasped the middle of the elongated hilt and she rushed to the bay door, quickly followed by a myriad of Kitsune and ORC personnel, eager to sink their claws in the freeing of this planet.

The door slid to the side, Ki activated her brilliant viridian blades and rushed forward. All around her, voices erupted in unison, beginning the charge towards the Loyalist defensive line...

Elsewhere...

Within the walls of the palace, the tyrant sat. Silent. Scheming. All the while the devilish smile on her lips.

Ceres was abruptly pulled from her thoughts as her personal guard entered the throne room, marching in perfect unison. Their captain spoke, deep, reverberating the chamber,"My Steward, they have arrived, just as you said."

Ceres smirked, a smirk full of malice and evil,"Good. Let them come. Let the supposed 'Queen' attempt to take the throne. But make it...fun for her." she hummed, and halted their exit with a hand,"Oh, and prepare my armor. I wish to have some fun before she arrives."

The captain swallowed nervously, knowing the depravity that would soon follow. He -they bowed in response and silently marched from the chamber, leaving Ceres alone, radiating in her dark aura, eagerly awaiting the fight to come...

 

[Janick Beauchamp]

Location: Akarui
Objective: Assault the capital city
Allies: ORC [member="Kimiko"]
Enemies: Loyalists

"Now, from known intel we know the main emplacements will be in turrets mounted into the city's wall" Wololo expanded on the intel delivered earlier.

"Walls... a primitive means of fortification" T-account commented.

"Once we revert in realspace, we split up in three groups, each with a specific sector of the city: Enchantress will lead one of the groups, Wololo will lead the second group and I will lead the thrust on the main gate. Keep low until we arrive within firing range, and keep up the erratic maneuvers so we can, hopefully, force them into a friendly fire"

"Copy, Alchemist Actual"

If my visions are accurate, the loyalist army will attempt a sortie to intercept our own forces when we arrive, she thought, while realizing the implications of such. But it may as well be theirs to fight. Upon reverting close enough to the planet to pose a hazard, while allowing to bypass the pirates in orbit, left them with very limited time to split up and take on separate portions of the city's fortifications. Just by splitting up the loyalists' anti-aircraft attention it would prove to be a nightmare but something was amiss: the loyalists' airpower was tied up in orbit. There could be a trap for what she knew, but the altitude was high enough for her flight to begin a reverse Immelmann which would likely lead them to an altitude low enough to make it risky to fire anti-aircraft without risking to catch some of their own troops in friendly fire. At the same time, with T-account in tow and the other pilots in her flight, Janick was flying very low until she had a visual on the targets; there was no BVR means at her disposal to proceed. It was starting to get uneasy...

Spoiler: Attack craft

Shusugaunt Ghost
12 Alakaha elite fighters

 

[Dax Perl]

Explosions bloomed along the walls of the city, the thundering sound slowly rolling towards the Rogue. Soon enough, the charge would begin. Suddenly loud vibration rocked the earth near Dax and Halzyn, the two men turning with weapons drawn to face whatever was just launched at them. Dax couldn't help but chuckle a little as his saber hissed closed, a familiar face emerging from one of the Force Cylinders. "[member="Coren Starchaser"]! Glad to see you're still alive. Thanks for coming, the assault's just about to begin." The Rogue gestured out to the waiting army below. "We're frontlining this chit." he said, "I'm sending Halzyn and some of my Judges to flank right, set up a crossfire. I'd appreciate it if you sent some of your Jedi along with him. I could use your help pushing up the middle." The Rogue gestured to [member="Cambria Zadira"] as he explained his plan.

Just as the Rogue finished speaking a loud roar resounded over the battlefield as the Cyaron swept low over the field, deploying its troops, [member="Kimiko"] among them. "And that's our queue. You in?" he asked once more as his sabers ignited.

---

As [member="Gib"] exited the hut, he would be able to hear the sounds of the assault already. Whether or not he'd manage to actually meet up with Dax was another question entirely. The little farm outside the city walls wasn't exactly near the fighting, and from the looks of it, the Loyalist Army was closer to him than Dax and the rest of the ORC and AIE forces. And by 'closer' it was more like, right on top of the man. It would be clear to the Spacer that a small force had assembled itself just west of of the where the fighting was, right near where Halzyn and Cambria would soon be sent to assault.

The usually gleaming armor was covered in dirt by these soldiers, attempts to not give themselves away too quickly. Surely they'd notice Gib he attempted to approach them however. He could of course make his way through the treeline, but that would take far too much time. But, perhaps, the Spacer would come up with a completely unorthodox way of overcoming the 'small' obstacle that had been placed before him.

 

[Coren Starchaser]

Having a few extra Jedi never hurt, and with the direction that the Coalition went, with not keeping Jedi in their government and calling them Judges, Coren felt that bringing the Shattered along was not going to hurt anything. They weren’t given an official role in the new Alliance in Exile, and that was fine. They had the ability to track the Force a lot more closely. But that meant they needed the right equipment. And sure, maybe Sector Force Vanguard held a lot of the Shattered, but so many more were taking the Force by the horns and doing what was needed to be done. Looking to his side, he noticed that he had [member="Cambria Zadira"].

“I ever mention I’m glad you didn’t jump ship?” He smirked behind his helmet. The equipment was modified from a mixture of Jensaarai armor and the Alliance trooper armor, add a cloak, and bam, he looked different enough to get respected, and could still be taken as an Alliance solider, working as the General should.

He laughed when he heard [member="Dax Fyre"]. “Well, gotta pay it forward for letting us use D’Qar.” And besides ORC space was always a second home. He nodded and forwarded a call to some of the Jedi to help the Judges. “Cam and I can come with you, if you need the extra support?” Weapons were always ready. And war was just a part of what Coren was.

 

[H3xle]

LOCATION: Akarui: Space
OBJECTIVE: Pirate Hunting

~Cassia~

"Flame actual reporting squadron in formation and initiating search." Cassia sent to Ironborne's flight control. She got the acknowledging double beep in her ear, then switched over to her squadron comm channel. "Alright, lets show'em what we've got. Keep it loose and watch your wingman."


Every fighter in the Silver Flame was unique, customized from this chassis or that by the pilot and a team of engineers. They'd all flown together for years now, and wing partners had inevitable employed technology to cover each other. As lead, Cassia had chosen to go without a wingman, and her choice in technology showed it. She tapped a few buttons on the side console, activating the active stealth suite, and her fighter vanished from view. Her scanners switched to passive, and she muted her mic to not send anything over the channel.

At the same time, she reached out with her senses, made sure she could feel each of her pilots as they began their search for the pirates. The jocularity of a good group of pilots never went away, but instead got honed into the focus on the mission. She could feel the banter going back and forth, as well as hear it over her headset. She settled in and smiled.

Cassia altered her vector to place her above her squadron, relative to their orientation. She was not the tip of the spear, she was the barb behind the head that no one saw until it ripped at the flesh. When they found the pirates, she knew they would attack first, try to scare off any military forces with a vicious and aggressive assault.

Cassia would be ready to push back when that time came.

 

[Cambria Zadira]

Objective: 1 - Assault the City
Allies: ORC/AiE
w/[member="Dax Fyre"] [member="Coren Starchaser"]
____

“I ever mention I’m glad you didn’t jump ship?”

The blue-hued Twi'lek's lekku swished in a thoughtful way, then answered the Corellian Jedi Master with a small smile.

"Why Master Starchaser... You would miss me, and I could not have that. It would be too much of a distraction for you," Cambria quipped lightly, then her golden eyes went to the leader of ORC's ground offensive to listen to his purposed plan.

They were to split their forces and try to catch the Loyalist Army in a crossfire. Sounded reasonable and doable. Course, it would take a coordinated effort between the two factions.

"As you wish. We will deliver," the Twi'lek Guardian offered to the Rogue Master, then double checked the heavy blaster pistol strapped to her shapely hip.

 

[Rayf Vigil]

Objective: Pirate Hunting

​

Rogue Squadron​

Operation Grey Flag​

Hikari System​

​

"Contact!" Rogue Nine's voice warbled with static, "Permission to go weapon's free."

"Negative!" Commander Vigil grunted into his comm unit in annoyance at the greenhorn, "Break off, Nine! Those are friendlies."

Each craft was unique, but Rayf was a Corellian and he knew fighters. He had recognized the Tellyr craftsmanship even before their transponders notified him the squadron they were approaching were Coalition.

"Flame Actual, this is Rogue Leader," he drawled in the way all combat pilots tended to over comms, "Requesting permission to join your search."

The Auriga wasn't the only Alliance-in-Exile combat element in this sector. While those under the command of [member="Coren Starchaser"] were focused on aiding in efforts to overthrow the tyrannical regime on Akarui, Commander Vigil and his Rogue Squadron were here on long range detachment from the AiE's Outback Patrol Group, tracking the very same pirates as [member="Cassia Graysong"].

For weeks the pirates had been hitting the Alliance remnant's resupply convoys, but that wasn't their only objective here today. High Command had received word from their underworld contacts that the pirates were selling weapons to the local regime, and if Rayf managed to persuade the Coalition to look the other way a GR-90E bulk transport was on standby waiting to scavenge any depots they found for supplies once the pirate threat had been neutralized.

[member="Ava Cartwright"]​

 

[H3xle]

LOCATION: Akarui: Space
OBJECTIVE: Pirate Hunting
ALLIES: [member="rayf vigil"]

~Cassia~

As Silver Flame squadron made an arc around the curve of the twin moons when a squadron of X-Wings appeared on sensors. Moments later, Cassia's cockpit filled with the voice of a stranger.

"Flame Actual, this is Rogue Leader," he drawled in the way all combat pilots tended to over comms, "Requesting permission to join your search."

"Rogue Leader, this is Flame Actual," Cassia replied, the signal originating from a point in space that looked unoccupied. "Feel free to join the party, the more of us the merrier."

As if on cue, a handful of odd looking ships from the surface of the Blue Moon on the edge of Cassia's passive scanners. A Royal-class Tof Light Clipper and four Buccaneer-class Tof Runabouts rose into space, looking like something out of a holovid, replete with masts and rigging. Cassia blinked for a moment before laying a comm laser onto Rogue Leader for more secure comms.

"Rogue Leader, Flame Actual. Verify what our scanners show...did the Yo-Ho Yogi just fly up from that moon or do I need to get my scanners checked out?" She almost chuckled, making reference to a children's pirate space fantasy broadcast from the Kathol system. It was a staple weekend morning show that Cassia had grown up with, but never thought to live in.

 

[Janick Beauchamp]

Location: Akarui
Objective: Assault the capital
Allies: ORC @Kimiko @Cambria Zadira [member="Coren Starchaser"] [member="Dax Fyre"]
Enemies: Loyalists

"T-account, pull up!"

Since the anti-aircraft guns were busy dealing with other rebel forces, it was time for them to start firing at the anti-aircraft guns, as well as other emplacements of all sizes, such as mass drivers and whatnot. From below, Janick had to pull up prior to opening fire at the AA turret; once said turret exploded in a burst, she took a few seconds to make a looping so that she could be on a parallel plane to the other emplacements. Meanwhile, T-account was flying a little erratically, almost as if she was liable to vomit. Beurk, I'm not sure it was a good idea to allow this transfer to the elite unit, or I'll have her craft inspected once this is over: I can sense T-account is soon vomiting, she thought, while T-account somehow was narrowly missed by enemy AA fire. In the meantime, Griet and Wololo were both destroying other emplacements in other areas along the wall, with the primitive AA doing the enemy no favors whatsoever. The very same AA that was able to only narrowly miss any of the fighters; even then SEAD was prioritized over other emplacements on the wall.

Spoiler: Attack craft

Shusugaunt Ghost
12 Alakaha elite fighters

 

[Dax Perl]

The Rogue nodded to the [member="Coren Starchaser"] "I won't say no, we could use all the help we can get." Admittedly, while the ORC had the tech, barely held together as it was, the Loyalists had the numbers. Even with the ships and guns, the fight could swing either way. The Reaper was gonna take every advantage he could get.

Dax then gestured to Halzyn, "Take Brill, Lark, and a few others," the Rogue told his second-in-command, and a couple of the other Judges who were present, "Wait till we engage. Once their attention is on us, hit 'em with everything you got." The Soldier nodded and beckoned over the two Judges that Dax had mentioned, as well as several others, all of who began to jog off, several other small units joining them as they passed.

The Marshall twirled his saber as he made his way towards the very front of the lines, assuming that Coren and his Jedi followed behind him. There was no speech to be given here. Everyone knew why they were there, and everyone knew the risks of being here. They'd volunteered after all, just as they had every time before. "Lets do this ladies and gents." The field filled with battlecries, cutting above the scream of fighters flying low over the walls, as the Coalition, the rebels, and the Alliance charged forward to join the fight.

[member="Coren Starchaser"] | [member="Kimiko"] | [member="Cambria Zadira"] (Also sorry, I wasn't very clear on whether or not you were going with Dax and Coren or going to flank with Halzyn, up to you.)

 

[Ava Cartwright-Pryce]

Akarui Space
Pirate Hunting
Allies: AiE/Rogue Squadron, ORC
w/[member="Rayf Vigil"] [member="Cassia Graysong"]

​

This was the Lieutenant Commander's first sorte with the refurbished Rogue Squadron after returning from helping to set up a rebel cell on Brentaal IV with Colonel Corek of the Rebel Alliance. While the acting Executive Officer was on the side mission, Commander Vigil had seen to finding new pilots to fill in vacant spots of the elite squadron that had been the back bone of the former Galactic Alliance.

Just like most of the Alliance's once mighty military forces, Rogues had not forgone the pains of war. The surprise of the Endgame attacks perpetrated by the acting Grandmaster of the New Jedi Order, who was a Sith Lord in disguise, had caught everyone flat footed. The Battle of Fondor had seen to heavy losses of both the GA's navy and starfighter corps alike. They were down, but not out and would just have to fight leaner and meaner now as they slipped into their new shoes of being the Alliance-in-Exile.

Goldilocks rolled her eyes as the exchange happened between the Old Man and Nine. The new flight officer was really good in the SIMS, but he was overzealous at times in practicality and had issues with strategic discipline as displayed here. Something he'd either learn real fast or the pilot would end up dead or kicked. The type of missions they were given had no room for that kind of stuff.

Squeak tootled an alert as Goldie's scanner came to life. "What the... Are you sure?" Ava queried her R9 unit. Another series of beeps confirmed what was before their collective eyes. "And I thought I'd seen it all," she chuckled with a shake of her golden head, then keyed the comm unit.

[ Rogue Leader, Flame Actual, this is Rogue Five... That's affirmative on those bogies. Looks like we found our pirates literally. ] There was a slight hint of pleasant disbelief in the Ralltiiri's mechanized voice heard over the comms as the sea-like ships made for space from the moon.

 

[Coren Starchaser]

The orders were given and Coren nodded. He could follow the militia sure. The discussion he, the Fleet Admiral, and the Chief of State had, was that when it came to ORC matters, they would default to their leadership. The problem with that was what happened with the dark side came calling? The response there, at least from his team, may cause friction. But he was going to do his best. Border disputes wee one thing, invading fleets of Sith or knock-off-Dark-Jedi? That was something else.

He was ready and able. Looking at [member="Cambria Zadira"] he nodded. She’d be welcome to come along with them, or assist. With his rifle drawn, Coren followed after Dax, and was waiting for the call. He knew when he was able to get a target, he’d probably be clear to fire, but if the Rogue Master had his own idea? It would be best to follow them.

When fire was coming in, Coren was already calling on the Force. He had a few tricks up his sleeve for everyone here. Shields and stun for the enemies to get started. Once they were a bit closer. He was a Jedi, but he was no miracle worker.

[member="Dax Fyre"]

 

[Not Ordo]

Location: Boondocks?
Objective: Yakisoba, Oh and Objective 1.
People: [member="Dax Fyre"] [member="Coren Starchaser"] [member="Ava Cartwright"] [member="Janick Beauchamp"] [member="Cassia Graysong"] [member="Rayf Vigil"] [member="Cambria Zadira"] @Kimiko @Yula Perl

He stopped as he moved away from the village. He had been here as part of the advanced scouting group but he was now late to meet the people in charge of the main assault. He understood why they didn't just do the bombing thing that most assault forces would do and he respected them for that. After being on the world and meeting the people he had to say that he had grown fond of them, even if they were weird. Humans were weird and he had lived with them his whole life. These folks were less weird than humans and smelled better most of the time and that's important when your nose is sensitive.

Gib walked along the path toward the main forces with his new weird armor and scanned the trees with his big orange eyes. His nostrils flared and the unmistakable smell of people ready for a fight hit him straight in the...nose. Gib was a lot of things, quick and light on his feet were not on that list. The smells turned into the sound of voices talking low. His pointed ears twitched as they picked out the sounds and he made a poor attempt at a crouching walk to get behind a tree. This must have been a flanking force. They weren't as big as he would expect a whole army to be but they were a whole lot more than one, even he could tell you that.

He peeked out from behind the tree and tried to judge the distance. They were close. Too close. And he was just him. He wasn't getting around, he didn't look anything like them so he wasn't getting through and his limited planning before hand told him it was fight or flight but his natural running speed kind of reduced his options. Maybe, if he was lucky, and they managed to suck, he could distract them and confuse them enough that when the real fighter arrived they could push through.

He looked around. He needed some way to keep them off balance and at a distance but he had nothing unless he started opening fire. He didn't really think he had enough ammo to lead with that option, though. He was stuck. He sighed and leaned his forehead against the tree while he thought.

"Think, Benje. Think." He said to himself as the rough bark pressed against his head.

He slowly looked up at the tall skinny tree and then peeked around at the closest enemy troops. Then he looked up again his mouth moving wordlessly as he tried to think of what he was trying to think of. He pushed the tree a little. It wobbled at the top. Gib sniffed and thumbed his nose. With a heavy grunt he pressed his shoulder into the tree, dug in his heels and began to push. For a moment he started to just feel dumb then he heard a crack. People started shouting about a noise and he could hear movement. No time for second guessing now. He pushed with everything he had until the tree started to tilt and the roots beneath his feet started to make pushing from here very unlikely. He moved to let the roots come up as the tall tree crashed through it's neighbors and then hit a group of approaching loyalist. Yelling erupted and screams of people that had been pinned but not killed by the tree filled the air. Gib turned away from the noise and ran toward the another tree to try to think of a better plan. He was pretty sure that was a one time trick.